Collection

Arrayed in fantastic display

My vast collection of memories

From fragments to days

The whole of a life

Within a bauble or two

Here a girl’s birthday

Shown now only

As the cake she ate

And the toy soldier she was given

Yet as you gaze upon them

Time unravels

Unfurling the scene

In all its glory

The minutest detail

All accounted for

And here

A man’s first kiss

This case displaying

The car radio

Always playing Gloomy Sunday

Billie Holiday, of course

And the wheel of his car

Now it reveals

That sweetest moment

When breath was heavy

And lips finally met

Ah but here now

Look further

Something strange

And far more wondrous

This display

It…

Um

It contains only

A black ink stain

And a spilled wine glass

The night was dark

Cold and lonely

Even the coyotes abandoned their call

The wine was cold too

Chilled to perfection

A soft clink

As they shared

A quiet moment

Then she whispered

“I’m ready…”

He took up the ink pot

Cradled carefully in both hands

Before pouring it slowly over her

Coating evenly

She was left shimmering

Black and glimmering

Then she screamed

Mouth distending

Contorting at a strange angle

And he screamed too

Eyes bleeding thick ink

This is not the memory I wish for

I…

I did not put this here…

No I do not wish to remember

I reject this

She-

She was everything

We would transcend together

But here I lie

A castle in mind

Holding only

Our memories